One-touch plug-in lock



YOVSHITAKA NAKANlSHl 3,397,000

Aug. 13,1968

ONE-TOUCH PLUG- IN LOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1965 III n Ll h l I H 3, 1968 YOSHITAKA NAKANISHI 3,397,000

ONE-TOUCH PLUG IN LOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1965 WWO 1968 YOSHITAKA NAKANISHI 3,397,000

ONE-TOUCH PLUG-IN LOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 27, 1965 FIGS LII

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1968 YOSHITAKA NAKANISHI 3,397,000

ONE-TOUCH PLUG-IN LOCK Filed Dec. 27, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FGJZ HEM-4b United States Patent Olfice 3,397,000 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 3,397,000 ONE-TOUCH PLUG-IN LOCK Yoshitaka Nakanishi, 644 l-chome, Yawata-machi,

Chiba-ken, Ichikawa-shi, Japan Filed Dec. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 516,625 Claims priority, application Japan, Dec. 27, 1964, 39/ 73,387 3 Claims. (Cl. 29261) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Lock having a lock bolt operated manually axially to a projected position against the force of a spring biasing the bolt continuously to a retracted position and to a rotated condition in which it is releasably held in a locked condition by the spring and projections on the bolt which are misaligned with a slot after projection therethrough and the rotation of the bolt. The bolt is rotated manually in a direction opposite to the rotation imparted by the spring for aligning the projections with the slot after which the spring returns the bolt to a retracted position opening the lock.

The lock is provided with a sleeve in which the bolt m=oves axially and a cam and groove programmed to carry out the rotation control for the spring and the extent that the bolt can be rotated in the direction opposite to rotation by the spring.

The present invention pertains to an improved lock and more particularly, relates to a plug-in lock to be fixed to buildings windows and door, especially sliding windows and sliding doors, or door leaf, covers, etc. of furniture such as book shelves, chest of drawers, etc.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide the abovementioned plug-in lock which is convenient for use, novel and remarkably improved, and by which insertionlocking and release can be automatically effected as a result of one-touch knob pushing or turning operation.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a handy plug-in lock which is simple in structure requiring less material and no special technique to handle and which can be made simply and at low cost, and can be employed conveniently for windows, doors and furniture.

Other purposes are described hereinafter.

For the abovementioned purposes, a plug-in lock is provided, which is equipped with at least one cylinder with a lock rod in its interior. The lock rod is held within the abovementioned cylinder in a condition in which it is free to slide and revolve, a means designed to provide the lock rod with elasticity in the sliding and revolving directions and a guiding mechanism of at least one-stage type which functions in such a way that when the abovementioned lock rod is pushed forward for a certain length in the direction of insertion, it causes the lock rod to be rotated to a required angle.

More comprehensive understanding of the present invention will be obtainable from the following description with reference to the attached drawings in which FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation view partly in section illustrating a condition in which the lock of the present invention is fixed to sliding windows FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view on an enlarged scales of a plug-in lock part of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3a and 3b form an exploded view of a plug-in lock and lock fitting respectively according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a side view of a cylinder,

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a lock fitting having a cut-away, i

FIGS. 6 and 7 are respective longitudinal side section views of cylinder ends,

FIG. 8 a partial sectioned longitudinal side view of a plug-in lock and lock fitting,

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal side section view of a plug-in lock,

FIG. 10 is a cross section taken along line X--X of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a cross section taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 9,

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a top part of a lock rod and lock fitting,

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevation view of a hinged door provided with the invention, and

FIGS. 14a and 14b form an exploded view of a lock rod top and cotter.

As exemplified in the drawing in which the figures have the same reference numerals applied to same or alike parts and particularly referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 a plugin lock embodying the present invention is mounted on a conventional sliding window. Window sashes 1, 2 are placed on a set of rails 3, 4 in a freely sliding condition and a lock rod cylinder 6, an element of the plug-in lock of the present invention, is fixed with screws 7, 7 to the vertical frame 5 of an inner sash while a lock fitting 9 is fixed with screws 10, 10 to a vertical frame 8 of an outer sash.

Referring to FIG. 2 and the following figures the abovementioned lock rod cylinder 6 forms a flange 11 at its front end (the right end of FIG. 2) and is provided with a shaft hole 12 on its rear end face, with aforesaid flange 11 being covered with a front style plate 15 provided with a projecting sleeve 14, and the cylinder fixed to the vertical frame 5 of abovementioned inner sash with abovementioned screws 7, 7 through tapped holes 16, 16.

A lock rod or bolt 17 is inserted into the cylinder 6 through aforesaid sleeve 14 and the shaft hole 12. The inner end of the rod is provided with a projecting retaining pin 27 and a knob 18 is fixed to the front or outer end of the rod. Within the cylinder, lock rod 17 is equipped with helical spring 19 and one end 20 of the spring 19 is inserted into a hole provided on the cylinder end whereas the other end 21 is fixed to the lock rod 17 after properly twisting the spring 19. By means of this spring 19, the lock rod 17 is caused to spring or be biased always in a return direction (to the right in FIG. 2) and at the same time, by means of the abovementioned twist, the lock rod 17 is provided with elasticity to turn clockwise.

Though a variety of mechanisms are available as a means to guide insertion and revolution of the lock rod 17, a cam mechanism, for instance, can be employed. As illustrated in FIGS. 3:: and 3b, an L-shaped cam groove 24 consisting of a groove 22 in the axial direction and a groove 23 in the circumferential direction is provided on the wall of cylinder 6 and a boss 25 of the screw pin type is screwed on the periphery of the lock rod 17. The top end of this boss 25 is located in the abovementioned cam groove 24 in a condition in which it is free to slide, by means of which insertion of lock rod 17 against the abovementioned spring 19 as well as the returning motion due to the compressive reaction force of abovementioned spring 19' is so guided as to take place along the groove 22 and at the same time, revolution by the torsional reaction of abovementioned screw 19 is so guided as to take place along the groove 23. If required, the aforesaid cam groove can be provided on the periphery of lock rod 17 and the boss in the cylinder 6.

Lock fitting 9 is of the box type as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is provided with an arresting hole 13 in the middle of front plate and fixed to the inner vertical frame 8 with screws 10, 10 through tapped holes 26, 26.

If, under such condition, the knob 18 is pushed by an operators finger tip, for example applying force in the direction shown by an arrow in FIG. 2, the lock rod 17 is guided in the same direction as the groove 22 in that the boss 25 slides in the groove 22, at which timeit compresses the spring 19 and pushes the tip of the lock rod into the arresting hole'13 of the lock fitting 9. When the abovementioned boss 25 reaches the entrance of groove 23, the lock rod 17 being under torsional reaction of the abovementioned spring 19 and guided by the abovementioned boss 25 sliding in the groove 23 revolves in the same direction (clockwise) as the groove 23, and turns the end arresting pin 27 on the back side of hole 13. When the boss 25 is pressed against the end of grOOVe 23 due to the abovementioned torsional reaction, the lock rod 17 is maintained elastically at the position, thus bringing about a locked condition.

In case of release, the knob 18 is held between ones fingers and turned a bit anticlockwise, then the lock rod 17 is so guided so as to revolve anticlockwise, by the boss 25 sliding in the groove 23 in a direction opposite to the abovementioned, in which case the abovementioned spring 19 is automatically twisted and tends to return to the original condition and then, guided by the abovementioned boss 25 sliding in the groove 23 in a direction contrary to the abovementioned, turns anticlockwise, at which time the abovementioned spring 19 is twisted again when the abovementioned boss 25 reaches the entrance of groove 22 the lock rod 17 is sprung forward automatically along the groove 22 by the spring 19 which has been compressed, thus making the retained pin 27 escape from the arresting hole 13 and bringing about a released condition. The spring 19 serves the purpose of, as previously, springing the lock rod 17 always towards the direction of return (to the right in FIG. 2) and at the same time, by means of the abovementioned torsional force, springing the lock rod 17 in such way that it turns clockwise.

As described above, the plug-in lock according to the present invention effects insertion and subsequent automatic to revolution and locking as a result of a push on a knob.

The abovementioned plug-in lock may be so constructed that the abovementioned cam groove 24 is provided in a properly inclined direction such as the groove 22 in FIG. 4. It made in this way, when the boss 25 slides in the groove 22 in case of insertion of lock rod 17, the spring 19 is further twisted and is thereby rendered strongly elastic in the groove 23. In the meantime, if the abovementioned spring 19 is wound around the lock rod 17 without being twisted, it will be twisted for the first time when the boss 25 slides in the groove 22, giving a turning force to the lock rod 17.

It is also possible to provide on the back of the abovementioned lock fitting 9, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the slant plates 42, 42 on the circumference of the arresting hole 13 so that in case of insertion and turning of the abovementioned lock rod 17, the retaining pins 27, 27 slide on the surface of the abovementioned slant plates 42, 42, thus pressing the lock rod 17 against lock fitting 9. It is also practicable to design the front plate 15 of the cylinder 6 in such manner that the flange 11, after having been fixed with screws 7, 7, is further fixed a bonding agent 43 as illustrated in FIG. 6 or, as illustrated in FIG. 7. An edge 44 of the front plate 15 is, for instance, curled in the form of arc and an edge 45 of flange 11 too is properly rounded accordingly, and such edge 44 is inserted into 45.

The plug-in lock shown in FIG. 8 is another example of the invention and is provided with a locking mechanism of a 2-step type, in which the aforesaid groove 24 is modified in such way that grooves 22, 23 are further extended by other grooves 22a, 23a to form a zigza configuration and on the back of lock fitting 9. The lock fittings 9a have lock rod holes 13a at an appropriate interval, with all other structures being designed same as the abovemenr tioned example.

If, under such condition, the knob 18 is pushed and the lock rod 17 is inserted, the boss 25 slides from groove 22 to 23 and the retaining pin 27 is inserted into the hole 13 in the same manner as described above, thus completing the first step of locking. If the lock rod 17 is then further inserted, the abovementioned boss 25 moves from the groove 22a to groove 23a and the retaining pin 27, is inserted into the next hole 13a, thus completing the second step of locking. In releasing, the knob 18 may be turned twice anticlockwise.

The plug-in lock illustrated in FIG. 9 is so constructed that the force of spring 19 acts in case of insertion of the lock rod 17. The abovementioned spring 19 is installed in front of the boss 25 (to the right in FIG. 9) and contrary to the previously mentioned example. The lock rod 17 is rendered elastic in the direction of insertion. The knob 18 is not fixed to the lock rod 17 and a guide groove 28 having an opening equivalent to about twice the abovementioned groove 23 is provided at the end of the lock rod and at the same time, the tip of the screw pin 29 screwed into the knob 18 is made to project into the abovementioned guide groove 28 so that the knob 18 can rotate within the scope of the opening angle of the aforesaid guide groove. On the other hand, a projecting stop pin 30 is provided at the top of the sleeve 14' of the aforementioned front plate 15 and at the same time, on the inner face of a tubular part 31 of knob 18; a guide groove 32 having an opening angle a little wider than the abovementioned cam groove 23 is formed. The positioned relationship between the abovementioned screw pin 29 and stop pin 30 is so designed that the abovementioned screw pin 29 can reach an interim position (indicated in chain lines) in the guide groove 28 as illustrated in FIG. 10 so that when the knob 18 is turned anticlockwise (arrow mark in FIG. 10) and the abovementioned stop pin 30 enters into guide groove 32, the lock rod 17 can revolve from that position to the end of the cam groove 23.

Accordingly, it starting from the condition of FIG. 9, in which the stop pin 30 contacting with the end of knob 18 holds the lock rod 17 at its back position, the knob 18 is held between two fingers, and is turned anticlockwise causing the stip pin 30 to reach the entrance of groove 32 and the knob 18 is released then the lock rod 17,

pushed by the spring 19, is inserted, at which time stop pin 30 enters into guide groove 32, revolves and effects the locking in the same manner as in the case of the preceding example. In order to release the lock the knob 18 is held between fingers and turned anticlockwise and when the boss 25 has escaped from cam groove 23, pulled this side to make the lock rod 17 retreat and when stop pin 30 escapes from guide groove 32, the knob 18 is properly turned clockwise and the end of knobs tubular section 31 is pressed against the abovementioned stop pin 30, thus maintaining the original back position.

According to the requirement, the abovementioned lock rod 17 need not be equipped with a retaining pin 27 as illustrated in FIG. 12.

The present invention is also applicable in the form of a plug-in lock for hinged door leaves of a book shelf, etc. In this case, the retaining pins 27 of the respective plugin looks described in the above examples may be made longer as required and the design of other structures may be modified appropriately, but it is also possible to add auxiliary devices as shown in FIG. 13 and FIGS. 14a and b.

That is to say, a projecting square shaft 33 is attached to the top of the abovementioned lock rod 17, the projecting cotter 34 is fixed to the boss 35 having a through square shaft hole 36 and the boss 35 is supported in the case in a freely rotatable condition so as to make it possible for the abovementioned cotter 34 to project through the window 38 on the side of a case 37. Any of the plugin locks described in the above examples may be employed as required. The case 37 is fixed with screws to the back of a wood frame 39 of one of the hinged door leaves, the cylinder 6 of plug-in lock is inserted in the front side, the square shaft 33 is inserted into the abovementioned square shaft hole 36 and clamped with a screw as described above. To the frame 39a of the other hinged door leaf, a lock fitting 41 having a locking slot 40 is fixed with screws. The hinged door leaves are closed, the knob 18 is pushed and when the lock rod 17 is inserted in a manner described hereinbefore and turned clockwise, the boss 35 revolves following and in the same direction as the revolution of square shaft 33, its cotter 34 projects through the slot 38 and enters into the slot 40 of lock fitting 41, thus completing the locking.

The plug-in lock according to the present invention when constructed as above described the lock rod can be inserted by a one-touch operation, entailing automatic rotation and locking, thus oflering great advantage in practical use. In addition, in case of emergency evacuation, etc., it can be released instantaneously without requiring any thinking. Thus, according to the present invention described above, it has become substantially possible for the first time to provide a plug-in lock which is simple in structure, can be fabricated cheaply and applied quite conveniently to windows, doors, furniture and various other objects.

Despite some examples of embodiment as described above, it is clear that the present invention is not to be limited to these examples of application, but can be variously modified within the scope of the spirit of invention indicated in the patent claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a lock, a lock bolt operable from a retracted position in which the lock is open to a locked position in which said bolt is in a projected position, spring means constantly urging said bolt to one of said positions responsive to application of axial force moving said bolt axially away from said retracted position to said projected position and rotating said bolt automatically to a rotated condition when said bolt is moved to said projected position thereby to cause it to assume said locked position, means releasably holding said bolt in said locked position as long as said bolt is in said rotated condition and said spring means biases said bolt toward one of said positions, programmed means to allow said bolt to move axially and including means programmed to allow said spring to rotate said bolt to cause it to assume said rotated condition when moved to said projected position and to control the extent of rotation of said bolt in both directions, and said spring means comprising means constantly biasing said bolt while in said locked position rotationally toward said rotated condition corresponding to a position for locking said lock, whereby when an axial force is applied to said bolt moving it away from said retracted position to said projected position said spring means automatically rotates said bolt in said lockedposition and retains it in said rotated condition and when said bolt is in said rotated condition and is rotated in an opposite direction the same extent of rotation required to assume said rotated condition said spring means allows return of said bolt to said retracted position, an operating knob movable on said bolt, means operably joining said bolt and said knob effective to cause said bolt to be moved to said projected position and automatically to said rotated condition upon application of force to said knob in one direction and including means effective to cause said bolt to assume said retracted position when said knob is operated in a different direction.

2. In a lock according to claim 1, in which said programmed means comprises a sleeve in which said bolt moves axially and said means programmed to allow said spring to rotate said bolt comprises a part of said sleeve having a cam groove and a cam in said groove attached to said bolt.

3. In a lock according to claim 1, in which said means releasably holding said bolt comprises means having a slot, said bolt having a projection aligned with said slot, and insertable through said slot when said bolt is moved to said projected position and to said retracted position, said spring means rotating said bolt to said rotated condition in which said projection is misaligned with said slot and said bolt assumes said locked position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 47,537 5/1865 Ford 292-62 545,215 8/1895 Torrey 292-62 538,666 5/1895 Dixon 292-57 2,368,799 2/1945 Barlow -529 X 2,599,207 6/1952 Spahr et al. 85-52 X 2,839,808 6/ 1958 Zahodiakin 24-2212 3,152,822 10/1964 Grifliths 24-221 X FOREIGN PATENTS 277,923 10/ 1914 Germany.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. J. R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner. 

